PRINTER'S NO. 771
No. 689 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, WALKO, TIGUE, SEMMEL, B. SMITH, PLATTS,
RUBLEY, M. N. WRIGHT, SHANER, BROWNE, BAKER, GEIST, STURLA,
SATHER, RAMOS, ITKIN, STERN, BARD, BOSCOLA, FARGO, BROWN,
EGOLF, E. Z. TAYLOR AND ROSS, MARCH 10, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 10, 1997
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for obstructing emergency
3 services.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 5112. Obstructing emergency services.
9 (a) Offense defined.--
10 (1) A person commits a summary offense if he, through
11 his intentional action, impedes, obstructs or interferes with
12 emergency services personnel performing a rescue, providing
13 emergency medical services to an injured victim or performing
14 firefighting activities.
15 (2) A person commits a misdemeanor of the third degree
16 if he enters a secured emergency zone without first obtaining
17 permission from the official in charge of the emergency
1 services personnel which established the zone.
2 (b) Emergency zones.--Emergency services personnel are
3 authorized to establish secured emergency zones in order to
4 insure the efficient rendering of the services being provided.
5 (c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
6 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
7 subsection:
8 "Emergency medical services." The services utilized in
9 responding to the needs of an individual for immediate medical
10 care in order to prevent loss of life or the aggravation of
11 physiological or psychological illness or injury.
12 "Emergency services personnel." Police, firefighters,
13 licensed physicians, registered nurses, emergency medical
14 technicians and technician-paramedics and first responders.
15 "Rescue." The act of extricating persons from entrapment or
16 dangerous situations which pose the imminent threat of death or
17 serious bodily injury.
18 "Secured emergency zone." A clearly designated area
19 surrounding victims in need of rescue or emergency medical
20 services. The term shall also include the area surrounding a
21 fire.
22 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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